tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post6206103716664916148..comments2024-02-13T21:31:57.980-04:00Comments on Facing Autism in New Brunswick: Autism & Real Inclusion: Conor Counts the Days (40) to SchoolAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05838571980003579163noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post-30778890734855814832011-07-27T15:29:28.509-03:002011-07-27T15:29:28.509-03:00My daughter will be in a self contained autism (lo...My daughter will be in a self contained autism (low/non-verbal, high behaviours) classroom this fall. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this class because, although it does meet her behavioural needs/communication challenges, the focus is mostly life skills. Life skills are good but communication/functional academics are really our focus at this stage (her life skills are fairly decent). We home-schooled before this, with good success, using a combination of ABA strategies (not as farmwife2 paints it), natural environment teaching, art based activities(which she loves), direct instruction (for functional acedemics), visual schedules,life skills, play based learning and any thing else that grabbed her attention. It was exhausting but clearly successful. I don't expect her progress to be as fast in the new classroom (as it was 1:1 at home) but it's WAY better than an inclusive setting would be. In the self-contained room they have the structure, flexibility and staff that just arn't there in a 'mainstream class'. Mainstreaming just doesn't work for everyone- including some 'neuro-typicals'.<br /><br />Farmwife2- I'm sorry your opinions/experiences with ABA are so negative but I don't share your dogmatic view. I don't believe ABA is the "end all, be all" but there are some aspects to the philosophy that are just good sense (ex: breaking a big task into small steps, encouraging appropriate behaviour, generalizing learned skills... do these things seem dumb to you?) Most people use some level of "ABA" everyday and just don't know it... do you ever treat yourself to a cup of coffee for a hard mornings work?trainspotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07808920446636134809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post-7132863063598884852011-07-27T14:57:43.048-03:002011-07-27T14:57:43.048-03:00Stateside, here in NY, "least restrictive env...Stateside, here in NY, "least restrictive environment" is the goal. General Ed placement is the first consideration, working up to residential school placement. This must be tailored to the student, and responsive to the student's needs. BTW, my guy learned that SIB is a useful tool from a classmate... and has used it quite effectively as an Authority Modification Technique ever since.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33052404.post-16508149914402251362011-07-27T12:27:01.643-03:002011-07-27T12:27:01.643-03:00We're in a 10:3 room. We are in a low behaviou...We're in a 10:3 room. We are in a low behavioural, verbal, multiple exceptionalities room, Gr 1 to 6 and going into Gr 5. I pulled him out after Gr 3 and a mess that should never have happened since the school lied in the end about his placement in June. My son too loves school and is not taught via ABA methods.<br /><br />His teacher pushes communication and socialization. She still does the 3R's, science and social studies. It's not a perfect fit (there is no such thing) but we'll never find another classroom like it. He, under her teaching (normal - work time, then play time - no mixing, not ABA -giving a toy for 30 secs, taking it away, rote trials, then giving it back if you get compliance from the child - b/c we don't want regression... he hasn't forgotten)<br /><br />The Teacher is coming tomorrow to see Russ and the ACS SLP. She is very excited to add technology to his communication skills. Our next stage is verbal (or tech use) of full sentences and wh questions. It will be a long one but we're all on side.<br /><br />Which is why instead of demanding full pay of ABA, I demand full pay of "appropriate for that child" learning. I have in all my lobbying never recommended banning ABA, but in giving funds to parents to use for those services they and their families require. Since what is appropriate in my home.... may not be in yours.farmwifetwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02680758336779501712noreply@blogger.com